Adolescents, their problems and solutions

What is adolescent?

Adolescent can be defined as the transitory period between childhood and adulthood this start from 10-19 years. It can be said to be a period of preparation for becoming a workers a patient and citizen this period can be divided into two phase:

• Early adolescent 10-14years
• Late adolescent 15-19years

It is a period that prepares the adolescent for the challenges of the future as it is marked by changes in the body, mind and emotional states of the individual. The onset of adolescent is marked by the development of secondary sexual characteristic. The changes affect the way the individual considers himself and what other expects of him or her sex. They form peer group in an attempt to define who they are very inquisitive conscious of themselves their environment they now belief that they parent ways of life old fashioned hence, they tend to listen to their peer groups instead of their parents. Adolescent believes they are old enough to live an independent life

Changes of male adolescent

1. Breaking of voice
2. Growing of pubic hair
3. Growing of axillary hair
4. Broadening of the chest or shoulders
5. Penile enlargement
6. Semen emission

Changes of female adolescent

1. On set of menstruation
2. Budding of the breast (breast get bigger)
3. Growing of public and axillary hairs
4. Broadening of pelvic girdle
5. Awkward and clumsy movement owing to rapid growth and development.
6. Many becomes interested in work and this may be reflected in school result and attitude to domestic work. All these can result in feeling of insecurity which if not well managed by parents, crisis may occurs thus leading to serious maladjustments.

Problem of adolescent

The problems of adolescent are numerous and can be cauterised into three group viz:

1. Emotional/ mental problem
2. Social problems
3. Medical problems
4. Elective mutism: where the adolescent refuse to speak and this is usually associated with marital conflict and poor relationship at home.
5. Truancy: which involves the adolescent leaving home nut fail to arrive at school? This is usually lower intelligences and it is a serious problem which may lead to conduct disorders later.
6. Conduct disorder: here there may be antisocial behaviour with rebelliousness and injecting the standard set by the society. The adolescent shows lack of concern for other. He may have aggressive behaviour and may associate with delinquent gangs leading to difficulties with the law enforcement agency. The adolescent may steal and experiment drugs
7. Eating difficulties: which can either be loss of appetite that is due to management of meals by parent with attempts by the child to resist the control of parents or overeating by the child to resist the control of parent overeating when less affection is given to child and he now uses it to compensate for the poor emotional situation in the home environment. Emotionally, there may be special stresses due to rapid changes in transitional state they pass through from childhood to adolescent these stress if not dealt with properly can lead to emotional instability and depression.

1. social problem

Adolescent belongs to neither the adult nor childhood group and the road to adulthood has to be found by trial and error adolescent may go to opposite extreme from parental values in their view about religion morals and their future careers.

Examples:

1. Emergence of gospel churches and Islamic centres have made adolescent to desert their home because they believe that their parent are not true Christians or Muslims.
2. Peer group pressure giving rise to adolescent alcoholism and use of drug.

• Smoking
• Increased sexual experimentation
• Cultism

All these factors that brought about high incidence of physical illness. Psychological disorder and sexual transmitted infection including HIV/AID and early pregnancy

3. Violence which may occur if:

• There is no suitable channel for the expression of normal aggressive instincts.
• A teenager’s idealism is frustrated if the society is not open to considering the ideas and aspiration of youth.
• There is lack of satisfying employment.
• The hero’s figures of the mass media are seen to me models for role performance (here the mass media often show violence’s as normal way of life).
• People live under oppression with restriction of human rights.
• Adolescent may be at the forefront of a violent behaviour as a means of retaliation against aggression.
• Medical problem: because of sexual experimentation, adolescent tend to be involved in unprotected sexual activities which have always resulted infections such as:
• Gonorrhoea / syphilis Chlamydia to mention a few
• Human immune deficiency virus infection (HIV)
• Unwanted pregnancy resulting in illness abortion thereby leading to death in case the pregnancies is carried to term; it thus gives to early parenthood. There is malnutrition due to self-imposed diet with some that are vulnerable to excessive weight and obesity.

Solutions to adolescent problems

Every individual in the community that are dealing with the adolescent need to them understand very well, in order to help the adolescent to pass through the tunnel successfully. Nurses, Doctors and all community health workers including the social workers must educate parent and community on how to deal with the adolescent problem. Problem adolescent are future generation and parents. Adolescent are the future therefore it is very worthwhile to help them learn how to live happy and healthy lives

To parents of adolescent;

• Do not be too strict possessive or uninterested in dealing with there children.
• Give adequate support in terms of finance and advise otherwise conflict occurs which can eventually lead to serious crises.
• Start sex education right from home to the adolescent
• Live decent and other honest life so that your children will have confidence in you for an adage says charity begins at home

The community

The community should try to do the following:

1. Provision of recreational and social facilities and activities recreation centres play ground, community viewing centres etc.
2. Involves them in community project; age grade activities and youth club activities.

The idealism of adolescent is needed by society for they can contribute in making this would a better place to live in. They need to talk and be listed to their idealism is not to be disregarded.

Health worker

Health education should be given to group of adolescent on various topics which include:

1. Who is the adolescent in relation in charges in the body including functions of the reproductive organs
2. Problem at home or school
3. Sexuality and fertility in such a way that are not misinterpreted
4. Peer group expectations
5. Preparation for parenthood childhood and family spacing
6. Drug and alcohol/ smoking
7. Nutrition
8. Urbanization in respect of employment
9. Counselling

Management of a sick adolescent

Teach the adolescent about his illness accept him as an individual with a responsibility to his total care. Explain all procedures regarding his care completely to him.

1. Let him ask question and be prepaid to answer him partially and realistically
2. Provide opportunity for him to associate with other including the staff in the centre.
3. Let him have a way of expressing his anger and frustration by allowing him to play draft or ayo etc.
4. Provide for privacy and independence and give hive opportunities for continuation of his studies, let him participate in group activities as well especially in programmes related in his care in order to prevent rebellious attitude.
5. Provide him with enough information about his illness and his responsibilities toward getting better. Encourages him to express his feeling of love or hared toward staff and relations without fear. Finally, the adolescent today face more complex challenges than ever before so they need to establish good relationship with key adult who will foster their development for solid life, long values and habits.